Trans activists ‘hijack NHS study on gender-questioning children’
Trans activists have taken over a research group set to underpin the future of NHS care for gender-questioning children, critics have claimed.
The James Lind Alliance (JLA), a taxpayer-funded project was set up to address the “weak evidence” around treating children who question their gender in response to the Cass review.
But the project has now been accused of “bias” by openly promoting puberty blockers and sex-change surgery.
The JLA also labels gender dysphoria – a medical condition – as “gender diversity” and collects data on gender identity instead of biological sex.
It was commissioned by the NHS in the wake of Baroness Cass’s review into gender-questioning children’s care to understand “what future research evidence will help secure the best outcomes for children, adolescents and young adults”.
However, it is asking children as young as five to talk about their “gender diversity” in its survey.
The survey states that anyone under 14 is simply able to press a button to confirm they have parental consent to fill out the questionnaire, and is not required for anyone older.
Speaking to The Telegraph, concerned parents claimed research is being set up to fail in its intended goal of providing a balanced and independent view and could compound a loss of trust in the NHS to care for children experiencing gender dysphoria.
Biased steering group
The steering group leading the research protocol includes a mix of healthcare professionals and people with “lived experience”.
Five of the six teenagers and young adults with “lived experience” are living as either a trans man or trans woman. Only one has detransitioned having temporarily lived as the opposite gender to the one they were born while a teenager, and were belatedly added to the panel after concerns were raised internally.
All three parents involved have trans children, including one who accessed puberty blockers privately for their child and was a Tavistock patient, and another whose child “began her gender journey at approximately five years old” and has since been diagnosed with autism, Tourette Syndrome, and other conditions.
The JLA website includes a video from a parent talking about the benefits of a “medical pathway” for these children, including the provision of drugs, which are now prohibited by the NHS.
The Government has made the sale and supply of puberty blockers illegal to under 18s and is reviewing whether the same should apply to cross-sex hormones. The current NHS position is that the latter should not be prescribed to anyone aged under 16.
Critics claim it risks disseminating misinformation and undermining the group’s neutral stance.
Unbalanced research
Dr Louise Irvine, a GP and co-chair of the Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender, claimed the way the current research is presented “conveys an uncritical approach to medical and surgical transition as a desired means to help children and young people with gender dysphoria”.
“There is no mention of any alternative approach such as psychological therapies,” she said. “This framing means that it is unlikely to attract children, young people, parents or practitioners who do not buy into the ideology or who have questions or regrets about previous transgender identification or treatments.”
The doctor said as a result it was “unlikely” to get answers to fundamental questions to which we still do not know the answers.
“Such as: why are we treating a psychological state with irreversible medical and surgical interventions? What is the cause of the rapid rise in referrals since 2014 and the change in the demographic to predominantly teenage girls? Or how best to help detransitioners?” she added.
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at sex-based rights charity Sex Matters, claimed the research “seems to be designed by gender activists”.
“Rather than building on the findings of the Cass Review of health services for gender-distressed children, it uses made-up concepts like ‘gender diverse’ – which is not a medical term, and can only mean not conforming to sex stereotypes.”
Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at sex-based rights charity Sex Matters, says the research appears to be ‘designed by gender activists’
She claimed that the project raised “significant safeguarding concerns” and “doubts about the research team’s neutrality”.
“Then there is the biggest fail of all: the study does not record the sex of respondents,” she added. “The team behind this research needs to revisit the Cass Review urgently and redesign their work to take its considerations – as well as basic safeguarding – into account.”
Stephanie Davies-Arai, founder and director at Transgender Trend, claimed the study was “very firmly placed within an ideological framework, based on the non-scientific concept of ‘gender identity’”.
‘It is as if the Cass Review never happened’
“This is no different to the activist understanding that was used, and ultimately brought down, the Tavistock gender clinic. It is as if the Cass Review never happened,” she said.
“NHS England must purge the activists and ideologues from the research for the new clinics if they are to be safe for children. The research as it stands seems to be designed to reinforce activist views.”
The JLA is an arm of the National Institute for Health and Research and funded by the Government.
The NHS originally said the “independent” work would be “providing the opportunity for children, young people, parents, health, social care and education professionals across the UK to inform the direction of future research, designed to respond to their needs”.
An NHS spokesman said: “There is a widely-recognised need for more high-quality research in gender care, and through this partnership a wide range of individuals, families and healthcare professionals will help shape future research priorities to ensure they are tailored to the needs of those with lived experience.
“This independent work, which is open to responses from all interested parties, is part of a wider programme in partnership with the National Institute for Health and Care Research, which underpins the design and delivery of the new evidence-based NHS services for children and young people with gender incongruence.”
A James Lind Alliance spokesman said: “The JLA was asked by NHS England and the NIHR to support a Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) in gender dysphoria and incongruence: children, adolescents and young adults (Youth Gender Diversity).
“Priority Setting Partnerships (PSPs) are open consultations designed to gather a broad spectrum of views, through open surveys.
“PSPs are highly valued, independent, and inclusive processes that employ a long-established method, used in the UK and internationally, that ensures all voices have an equal say in setting future research priorities.
“In line with JLA methodology, this PSP is seeking all views and opinions, and no perspectives are excluded from contributing to the consultation exercise.”